Combinations of meningococcal factor H binding proteins

ABSTRACT

The M01573 sequence of meningococcal fHbp offers poor coverage in a vaccine. The invention addresses this poor coverage in two ways. In a first aspect, a fHbp-based vaccine includes two family I fHbp sequences, one which is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573, and vice versa. In a second aspect, a multi-family fHbp-based vaccine uses a family I fHbp sequence which is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573, in combination with a family III fHbp sequence.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase patent application of PCT/IB2011/052785, filed Jun. 24, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/358,816, filed Jun. 25, 2010, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in the present disclosure in their entirety.

SUBMISSION OF SEQUENCE LISTING ON ASCII TEXT FILE

The content of the following submission on ASCII text file is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: a computer readable form (CRF) of the Sequence Listing (file name: 223002127000SubSeqList.txt, date recorded: Jun. 17, 2015, size: 80 KB).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is in the field of meningococcal vaccines, in particular those containing fHbp antigen.

BACKGROUND ART

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is a Gram-negative spherical bacterium. Current meningococcal vaccines are also based on capsular saccharides. These include monovalent serogroup C conjugate vaccines and 4-valent conjugate mixtures for serogroups A, C, W135 and Y. There is currently no useful vaccine authorised for general use against serogroup B (‘MenB’).

One antigen which has been proposed for use in immunising against MenB is the factor H binding protein (‘fHbp’). This antigen has also been called protein ‘741’ (SEQ IDs 2535 & 2536 in ref. 61), ‘NMB1870’, ‘GNA1870’ [refs. 1-3], ‘P2086’, ‘LP2086’ or ‘ORF2086’ [4-6]. The protein has been well studied. It is naturally a lipoprotein and is expressed across all meningococcal serogroups. The structure of fHbp's C-terminal immunodominant domain (‘fHbpC’) has been determined by NMR [7]. This part of the protein forms an eight-stranded β-barrel, whose strands are connected by loops of variable lengths. The barrel is preceded by a short α-helix and by a flexible N-terminal tail.

The flbp antigen falls into three distinct variants or families [8] and it has been found that serum raised against a given family is bactericidal within the same family, but is not active against strains which express one of the other two families i.e. there is intra-family cross-protection, but not inter-family cross-protection. Thus reference 8 proposes to combine different variants of fHbp into a single vaccine composition, thereby increasing strain coverage, either as a mixture of separate proteins or as a fusion protein of the different variants (the latter being ‘tandem proteins’).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Family I of fHbp includes strain MC58, which is the strain which was used for the first genomic sequence publication [9] and is available from the ATCC as “BAA-335”. The MC58 sequence for fHlbp is SEQ ID NO: 1 herein, shown in SEQ ID NO: 26 starting at the cysteine at the N-terminus of the mature meningococcal protein. Family I also includes strain M01573 [5], whose sequence is SEQ ID NO: 23 herein (also referred to as the “B01” or “CDC1573” sequence; see database entry GI:40353481). SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 26 are aligned below.

Although the M01573 fHbp sequence is proposed for use in a human vaccine [10], and despite its close sequence relationship to fHbp from strain MC58, the inventors have found that serum raised against the M01573 sequence offers poor protection against the MC58 strain. As MC58 is representative of at least 30% of circulating family I strains, the M01573 sequence thus offers poor coverage of family I. It is an object of the invention to address this poor coverage, and to provide further and improved vaccine compositions which include fHbp antigens from multiple families. In broad terms, this object is achieved in two ways:

In a first aspect, a fHbp-based vaccine includes two family I fHbp sequences, one which is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573, and the other vice versa. Thus the invention provides an immunogenic composition which comprises a first fHbp antigen and a second fHbp antigen, wherein: the first fHbp antigen comprises an amino acid sequence which is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 23; and the second fHbp antigen comprises an amino acid sequence which is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 23 than to SEQ ID NO: 1. As explained in more detail below, this immunogenic composition can include further antigen components in addition to these two fHbp antigens.

In a second aspect, a multi-family fHbp-based vaccine uses a family I sequence which is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573, in combination with a family III sequence. Thus the invention provides an immunogenic composition which comprises a first fHbp antigen and a second fHbp antigen, wherein: the first fHbp antigen comprises an amino acid sequence which is more closely related to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 23; and the second fHbp antigen comprises an amino acid sequence (i) having at least w % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least x contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 25. The value of w is at least 94 (e.g. 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or more). The value of x is either (a) at least 50 e.g. 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 180, 200 or (b) at least 7 (e.g. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200), provided that the fragment is not also a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or of SEQ ID NO: 3. The first and second fHbp antigens have different amino acid sequences.

As explained in more detail below, this immunogenic composition can include further antigen components in addition to these two fHbp antigens but, preferably, it does not include a f-Ibp antigen comprising an amino acid sequence with ≥95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 23.

The immunogenic compositions of the invention may be adjuvanted or unadjuvanted.

Factor H Binding Protein(s)

Compositions of the invention include at least two different meningococcal factor H binding proteins (fHbp) to generate distinct immune responses which are not fully cross-reactive and which provide a broader spectrum of strain coverage against meningococci that the single fHbps alone.

In the invention's first aspect, a composition includes two family I fHbp antigen sequences. The first of these is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573; the second is more closely related to M01573 than to MC58. In the invention's aspect, a composition includes a fHbp which is more closely related to MC58 than to M01573. A fH-bp antigen sequence may be defined as more closely related to MC58 than to M01573 if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

-   -   (a) it can elicit antibodies in a mouse which recognise a         wild-type meningococcal fHbp comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 but which,         under the same binding conditions, do not recognise a wild-type         meningococcal fHbp comprising SEQ ID NO: 4 [NB: it may elicit         some antibodies which recognise both SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 4].     -   (b) it can elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal         against strain MC58 in a serum bactericidal assay; for example,         providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≥1:4 using the         Goldschneider assay with human complement [11-13], and/or         providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≥1:128 using baby rabbit         complement.     -   (c) it has at least 75% sequence identity to both of SEQ ID NO:         1 and SEQ ID NO: 23, but it has a higher sequence identity to         SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 23, when aligned using the same         algorithm and parameters.     -   (d) it includes one or more of the 6-mers listed as SEQ ID NOs:         27 to 37. NB: the 6-mers of SEQ ID NOs: 27 to 34 may overlap in         the sequence, and the 6-mers of SEQ ID NOs: 36 & 37 may overlap         in the sequence.     -   (e) when aligned with SEQ ID NO: 1, it does not have a threonine         residue (and preferably has an alanine residue) at the amino         acid residue which aligns with Ala-2 of SEQ ID NO:1.     -   (f) when aligned with SEQ ID NO: 1, it does not have a valine         residue (and preferably has a glycine residue) at the amino acid         residue which aligns with Gly-141 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Of these six criteria, a sequence preferably meets at least criterion (b) or (c), more preferably at least (b) & (c), even more preferably at least (a), (b) & (c), and most preferably all six.

For the first aspect, a fHbp antigen sequence may be defined as more closely related to M01573 than to MC58 if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

-   -   (a) it can elicit antibodies in a mouse which recognise a         wild-type meningococcal fHbp comprising SEQ ID NO: 4 but which,         under the same binding conditions, do not recognise a wild-type         meningococcal fHbp comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 [NB: it may elicit         some antibodies which recognise both SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 4].     -   (b) it elicits antibodies in a mouse which are not bactericidal         against strain MC58 in a serum bactericidal assay; for example,         providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≤1:4 using the         Goldschneider assay with human complement [11-13], and/or         providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≤1:128 using baby rabbit         complement.     -   (c) it has at least 75% sequence identity to both of SEQ ID NO:         1 and SEQ ID NO: 23, but it has a higher sequence identity to         SEQ ID NO: 23 than to SEQ ID NO: 1, when aligned using the same         algorithm and parameters.     -   (d) it includes one or more of the 6-mers listed as SEQ ID NOs:         38 to 48. NB: the 6-mers of SEQ ID NOs: 38 to 45 may overlap in         the sequence, and the 6-mers of SEQ ID NOs: 47 & 48 may overlap         in the sequence.     -   (e) when aligned with SEQ ID NO: 1, it has a threonine residue         at the amino acid residue which aligns with Ala-2 of SEQ ID NO:         1.     -   (f) when aligned with SEQ ID NO: 1, it has a valine residue at         the amino acid residue which aligns with Gly-141 of SEQ ID NO:1.

Of these six criteria, a sequence preferably meets at least criterion (a) or (c), more preferably at least (a) & (c), even more preferably at least (a), (b) & (c), and most preferably all six.

For the second aspect of the invention, the second fHbp antigen comprises an amino acid sequence (i) having at least w % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least x contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 25. The value of w is at least 94 (e.g. 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or more). The value of x is either (a) at least 50 e.g. 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 180, 200 or (b) at least 7 (e.g. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200), provided that the fragment is not also a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or of SEQ ID NO: 3. Preferred fragments comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 25.

fHbp sequences which are more closely related to MC58 than to M01573, or vice versa, or which comprise a sequence with ≥94% identity to and/or a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 25, can be designed based on these known sequences, or they can be selected from the large number of wild-type fHbp sequences which have been reported in the art e.g. see references 1-8 and 14-19.

Suitable amino acid sequences used with the invention may, compared to SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 23, include one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc.) conservative amino acid replacements i.e. replacements of one amino acid with another which has a related side chain. Genetically-encoded amino acids are generally divided into four families: (1) acidic i.e. aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic i.e. lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar i.e. alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; and (4) uncharged polar i.e. glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine. Phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine are sometimes classified jointly as aromatic amino acids. In general, substitution of single amino acids within these families does not have a major effect on the biological activity. The antigens may have one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc.) single amino acid deletions relative to a reference sequence. The antigens may also include one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, etc.) insertions (e.g. each of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 amino acids) relative to a reference sequence.

A composition of the invention can include only two different fHbp sequences, or can include more than two different fHbp sequences. For example, a composition of the first aspect may or may not include further fHbp sequences beyond the two flbp sequences discussed above e.g. it may include a fHbp sequence from family II and/or from family III e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 3 herein. Thus a composition may be a bivalent fHbp composition, or may include be more than two different fHbp sequences e.g. in a trivalent or tetravalent fHbp composition.

A composition of the first aspect comprises two family I fHbp sequences, and ideally also includes a fHbp sequence from family II and/or family III. Usefully, it includes a fHbp antigen comprising an amino acid sequence (i) having at least w % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least x contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 25. The values of w and x are given above, and preferred fragments comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 25. Such fHbp antigens (also present in compositions of the second aspect) may elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal against strain 961-5945 in a serum bactericidal assay; for example, providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≥1:4 using the Goldschneider assay with human complement [11-13], and/or providing a serum bactericidal titer of ≥1:128 using baby rabbit complement. Strain 961-5945 has been widely reported in the literature (e.g. see refs. 1, 2 & 20-26) and is available as isolate MDU 9615945, id 1002, from the Neisseria PubMLST collection. It is a B:2b:P1.21,16 strain with electrophoretic type A4 and MLST type 153. Its fHbp sequence is given in reference 23, GI:106073476.

Thus a composition of the first aspect may comprise (i) first and second fHbp antigens as defined above, and (ii) a third fHbp antigen comprising an amino acid sequence (i) having at least w % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least x contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 25.

A composition of the second aspect comprises two different fHbp antigens as disclosed above. The composition may include a third fHbp antigen, but anyway it is preferred that the composition does not include (i) an antigen comprising an amino acid sequence which has >95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23 or (ii) an antigen comprising an amino acid sequence which has >95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 24.

A fHbp antigen in a composition of the invention may be lipidated e.g. at a N-terminus cysteine. In other embodiments, however, fHbp antigen(s) are not lipidated. For lipidated fHbps, lipids attached to cysteines will usually include palmitoyl residues e.g. as tripalmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteine (Pam3Cys), dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine (Pam2Cys), N-acetyl (dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine), etc. Examples of mature lipidated fHbp sequences are SEQ ID NO: 23 (including SEQ ID NO: 4), SEQ ID NO: 24 (including SEQ ID NO: 5), and SEQ ID NO: 25 (including SEQ ID NO: 6).

Where a composition comprises different meningococcal fHbp antigens, these may be present as separate polypeptides (e.g. a first and second polypeptide) or they may be present as part of a single ‘hybrid’ polypeptide i.e. where at least two (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, or more) fHbp antigens are expressed as a single polypeptide chain (fusion protein), as disclosed for meningococcal antigens in reference 27.

Hybrid polypeptides can be represented by the formula NH₂-A-{-X-L-}_(n)-B—COOH, wherein: each X is an amino acid sequence of a different fHbp antigen as defined above; L is an optional linker amino acid sequence; A is an optional N-terminal amino acid sequence; B is an optional C-terminal amino acid sequence; n is an integer of 2 or more (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.). Usually n is 2 or 3.

If a —X— moiety has a leader peptide sequence in its wild-type form, this may be included or omitted in the hybrid protein. In some embodiments, the leader peptides will be deleted except for that of the —X— moiety located at the N-terminus of the hybrid protein i.e. the leader peptide of X₁ will be retained, but the leader peptides of X₂ . . . X_(n) will be omitted. This is equivalent to deleting all leader peptides and using the leader peptide of X₁ as moiety -A-.

For each n instances of {—X-L-}, linker amino acid sequence -L- may be present or absent. For instance, when n=2 the hybrid may be NH₂—X₁-L₁-X₂-L₂-COOH, NH₂—X₁—X₂—COOH, NH₂—X₁,-L₁, -X₂—COOH, NH₂—X₁—X₂-L₂-COOH, etc. Linker amino acid sequence(s) -L- will typically be short (e.g. 20 or fewer amino acids i.e. 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples comprise short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning, poly-glycine linkers (i.e. comprising Gly_(n), where n=2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more), and histidine tags (i.e. His_(n) where n=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more). Other suitable linker amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art. A useful linker is GSGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 15) or GSGSGGGG (SEQ ID NO: 16), with the Gly-Ser dipeptide being formed from a BamHI restriction site, thus aiding cloning and manipulation, and the (Gly)₄ tetrapeptide (SEQ ID NO: 49) being a typical poly-glycine linker. Another suitable linker, particularly for use as the final L_(n) is a Leu-Glu dipeptide.

-A- is an optional N-terminal amino acid sequence. This will typically be short (e.g. 40 or fewer amino acids i.e. 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples include leader sequences to direct protein trafficking, or short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning or purification (e.g. histidine tags i.e. His_(n) where n=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more). Other suitable N-terminal amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art. If X₁ lacks its own N-terminus methionine, -A- is preferably an oligopeptide (e.g. with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 amino acids) which provides a N-terminus methionine e.g. Met-Ala-Ser, or a single Met residue.

—B— is an optional C-terminal amino acid sequence. This will typically be short (e.g. 40 or fewer amino acids i.e. 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples include sequences to direct protein trafficking, short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning or purification (e.g. comprising histidine tags i.e. His_(n) where n=3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more, such as SEQ ID NO: 17), or sequences which enhance protein stability. Other suitable C-terminal amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Preferred compositions of the first and second aspects include a fHbp antigen comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 99% sequence identity (e.g. 100% identity) to SEQ ID NO: 25. This can be a third antigen in the first aspect and a second antigen in the second aspect. This antigen can be a lipoprotein with a N-terminal cysteine.

Adjuvants

As mentioned above, compositions of the invention may be adjuvanted or unadjuvanted.

Where a composition is adjuvanted, it may include e.g. an aluminium salt adjuvant, an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant, or an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide adjuvant.

Aluminium Salts

Suitable aluminium salts include aluminium hydroxide. This name is conventional, but is used for convenience only, as it is not a precise description of the actual chemical compound which is present [e.g. see chapter 9 of reference 28]. The invention can use any of the “hydroxide” adjuvants that are in general use as adjuvants. These are typically aluminium oxyhydroxide salts, which are usually at least partially crystalline. Aluminium oxyhydroxide, which can be represented by the formula AlO(OH), can be distinguished from other aluminium compounds, such as aluminium hydroxide Al(OH)₃, by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, in particular by the presence of an adsorption band at 1070 cm⁻¹ and a strong shoulder at 3090-3100 cm⁻¹ [chapter 9 of ref. 28]. The degree of crystallinity of an aluminium hydroxide adjuvant is reflected by the width of the diffraction band at half height (WHH), with poorly-crystalline particles showing greater line broadening due to smaller crystallite sizes. The surface area increases as WHH increases, and adjuvants with higher WHH values have been seen to have greater capacity for antigen adsorption. A fibrous morphology (e.g. as seen in transmission electron micrographs) is typical for aluminium hydroxide adjuvants. Mean particle diameters in the range of 1-10 μm are reported in reference 29. The pI of aluminium hydroxide adjuvants is typically about 11 i.e. the adjuvant itself has a positive surface charge at physiological pH. Adsorptive capacities of between 1.8-2.6 mg protein per mg Al⁺⁺⁺ at pH 7.4 have been reported for aluminium hydroxide adjuvants.

The concentration of Al⁺⁺⁺ in a composition for administration to a patient is preferably less than 5 mg/ml e.g. ≤4 mg/ml, ≤3 mg/ml, ≤2 mg/ml, ≤1 mg/ml, etc. A preferred range is between 0.2 and 1 mg/ml. A maximum Al⁺⁺⁺ concentration of 0.85 mg/dose is preferred.

When an aluminium salt is used as an adjuvant, at least 75% (by weight) of fHbp in a composition of the invention should be adsorbed to it e.g. ≥80%, ≥75%≥90%, ≥95% or even 100%. The proportion of adsorbed fHbp can be controlled by altering salt concentration and/or pH during formulation e.g. in general, a higher NaCl concentration can decrease fHbp's adsorption. The amount of adsorption for any formulation will depend on a combination of parameters including the adjuvant's PZC, the salt concentration and pH during formulation, the adjuvant concentration, the antigen concentration and the antigen's pI. The impact of each of these parameters on adsorption can be readily assessed.

The degree of adsorption can be determined by comparing the total amount of fHbp antigen in a composition (e.g. measured before adsorption occurs, or measured by desorbing adsorbed antigen) to the amount which remains in the supernatant after centrifugation (e.g. see chapter 4 of ref. 30). The absence of detectable antigen in the supernatant after centrifugation indicates that total adsorption has occurred i.e. all of the fHbp is in the pellet, which contains the insoluble adjuvant and its adsorbed content. Efficient adsorption of fHbp antigens can use the techniques disclosed in reference 31.

Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Compositions of the invention may include an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant. Various suitable emulsions are known, and they typically include at least one oil and at least one surfactant, with the oil(s) and surfactant(s) being biodegradable (metabolisable) and biocompatible. The oil droplets in the emulsion are generally less than 5 μm in diameter, and advantageously the emulsion comprises oil droplets with a sub-micron diameter, with these small sizes being achieved with a microfluidiser to provide stable emulsions. Droplets with a size less than 220 nm are preferred as they can be subjected to filter sterilization.

The invention can be used with oils such as those from an animal (such as fish) or vegetable source. Sources for vegetable oils include nuts, seeds and grains. Peanut oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, and olive oil, the most commonly available, exemplify the nut oils. Jojoba oil can be used e.g. obtained from the jojoba bean. Seed oils include safflower oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil and the like. In the grain group, corn oil is the most readily available, but the oil of other cereal grains such as wheat, oats, rye, rice, teff, triticale and the like may also be used. 6-10 carbon fatty acid esters of glycerol and 1,2-propanediol, while not occurring naturally in seed oils, may be prepared by hydrolysis, separation and esterification of the appropriate materials starting from the nut and seed oils. Fats and oils from mammalian milk are metabolizable and may therefore be used in the practice of this invention. The procedures for separation, purification, saponification and other means necessary for obtaining pure oils from animal sources are well known in the art. Most fish contain metabolizable oils which may be readily recovered. For example, cod liver oil, shark liver oils, and whale oil such as spermaceti exemplify several of the fish oils which may be used herein. A number of branched chain oils are synthesized biochemically in 5-carbon isoprene units and are generally referred to as terpenoids. Shark liver oil contains a branched, unsaturated terpenoid known as squalene, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene. Other preferred oils are the tocopherols (see below). Oil-in-water emulsions comprising squalene are particularly preferred. Mixtures of oils can be used.

Surfactants can be classified by their ‘HLB’ (hydrophile/lipophile balance). Preferred surfactants of the invention have a HLB of at least 10, preferably at least 15, and more preferably at least 16. The invention can be used with surfactants including, but not limited to: the polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters surfactants (commonly referred to as the Tweens), especially polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80; copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), and/or butylene oxide (BO), sold under the DOWFAX™ tradename, such as linear EO/PO block copolymers; octoxynols, which can vary in the number of repeating ethoxy (oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) groups, with octoxynol-9 (Triton X-100, or t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol) being of particular interest; (octylphenoxy)polyethoxyethanol (IGEPAL CA-630/NP-40); phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (lecithin); polyoxyethylene fatty ethers derived from lauryl, cetyl, stearyl and oleyl alcohols (known as Brij surfactants), such as triethyleneglycol monolauryl ether (Brij 30); and sorbitan esters (commonly known as the SPANs), such as sorbitan trioleate (Span 85) and sorbitan monolaurate. Preferred surfactants for including in the emulsion are polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate), Span 85 (sorbitan trioleate), lecithin and Triton X-100. As mentioned above, detergents such as polysorbate 80 may contribute to the thermal stability seen in the examples below.

Mixtures of surfactants can be used e.g. polysorbate 80/sorbitan trioleate mixtures. A combination of a polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80) and an octoxynol such as t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-100) is also suitable. Another useful combination comprises laureth 9 plus a polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester and/or an octoxynol.

Preferred amounts of surfactants (% by weight) are: polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters (such as polysorbate 80) 0.01 to 1%, in particular about 0.1%; octyl- or nonylphenoxy polyoxyethanols (such as Triton X-100, or other detergents in the Triton series) 0.001 to 0.1%, in particular 0.005 to 0.02%; polyoxyethylene ethers (such as laureth 9) 0.1 to 20%, preferably 0.1 to 10% and in particular 0.1 to 1% or about 0.5%.

Specific oil-in-water emulsion adjuvants useful with the invention include, but are not limited to:

-   -   A submicron emulsion of squalene, polysorbate 80, and sorbitan         trioleate. The composition of the emulsion by volume can be         about 5% squalene, about 0.5% polysorbate 80 and about 0.5%         Span 85. In weight terms, these ratios become 4.3% squalene,         0.5% polysorbate 80 and 0.48% Span 85. This adjuvant is known as         ‘MF59’ [32-34], as described in more detail in Chapter 10 of         ref. 35 and chapter 12 of ref. 36. The MF59 emulsion         advantageously includes citrate ions e.g. 10 mM sodium citrate         buffer.     -   An emulsion comprising squalene, an α-tocopherol, and         polysorbate 80. These emulsions may have from 2 to 10% squalene,         from 2 to 10% tocopherol and from 0.3 to 3% polysorbate 80, and         the weight ratio of squalene:tocopherol is preferably ≤1 (e.g.         0.90) as this provides a more stable emulsion. Squalene and         polysorbate 80 may be present volume ratio of about 5:2, or at a         weight ratio of about 11:5. One such emulsion can be made by         dissolving polysorbate 80 in PBS to give a 2% solution, then         mixing 90 ml of this solution with a mixture of (5 g of         DL-α-tocopherol and 5 ml squalene), then microfluidising the         mixture. The resulting emulsion may have submicron oil droplets         e.g. with an average diameter of between 100 and 250 nm,         preferably about 180 nm.     -   An emulsion of squalene, a tocopherol, and a Triton detergent         (e.g. Triton X-100). The emulsion may also include a 3d-MPL (see         below). The emulsion may contain a phosphate buffer.     -   An emulsion comprising a polysorbate (e.g. polysorbate 80), a         Triton detergent (e.g. Triton X-100) and a tocopherol (e.g. an         α-tocopherol succinate). The emulsion may include these three         components at a mass ratio of about 75:11:10 (e.g. 750 μg/ml         polysorbate 80, 110 μg/ml Triton X-100 and 100 μg/ml         α-tocopherol succinate), and these concentrations should include         any contribution of these components from antigens. The emulsion         may also include squalene. The emulsion may also include a         3d-MPL (see below). The aqueous phase may contain a phosphate         buffer.     -   An emulsion of squalane, polysorbate 80 and poloxamer 401         (“Pluronic™ L121”). The emulsion can be formulated in phosphate         buffered saline, pH 7.4. This emulsion is a useful delivery         vehicle for muramyl dipeptides, and has been used with         threonyl-MDP in the “SAF-1” adjuvant [37] (0.05-1% Thr-MDP, 5%         squalane, 2.5% Pluronic L121 and 0.2% polysorbate 80). It can         also be used without the Thr-MDP, as in the “AF” adjuvant [38]         (5% squalane, 1.25% Pluronic L121 and 0.2% polysorbate 80).         Microfluidisation is preferred.     -   An emulsion comprising squalene, an aqueous solvent, a         polyoxyethylene alkyl ether hydrophilic nonionic surfactant         (e.g. polyoxyethylene (12) cetostearyl ether) and a hydrophobic         nonionic surfactant (e.g. a sorbitan ester or mannide ester,         such as sorbitan monoleate or ‘Span 80’). The emulsion is         preferably thermoreversible and/or has at least 90% of the oil         droplets (by volume) with a size less than 200 nm [39]. The         emulsion may also include one or more of: alditol (e.g.         mannitol); a cryoprotective agent (e.g. a sugar, such as         dodecylmaltoside and/or sucrose); and/or an alkylpolyglycoside.         Such emulsions may be lyophilized. The emulsion may include         squalene:polyoxyethylene cetostearyl ether:sorbitan         oleate:mannitol at a mass ratio of 330:63:49:61.     -   An emulsion having from 0.5-50% of an oil, 0.1-10% of a         phospholipid, and 0.05-5% of a non-ionic surfactant. As         described in reference 40, preferred phospholipid components are         phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine,         phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol,         phosphatidic acid, sphingomyelin and cardiolipin. Submicron         droplet sizes are advantageous.     -   A submicron oil-in-water emulsion of a non-metabolisable oil         (such as light mineral oil) and at least one surfactant (such as         lecithin, Tween 80 or Span 80). Additives may be included, such         as QuilA saponin, cholesterol, a saponin-lipophile conjugate         (such as GPI-0100, described in reference 41, produced by         addition of aliphatic amine to desacylsaponin via the carboxyl         group of glucuronic acid), dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide         and/or N,N-dioctadecyl-N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)propanediamine.     -   An emulsion comprising a mineral oil, a non-ionic lipophilic         ethoxylated fatty alcohol, and a non-ionic hydrophilic         surfactant (e.g. an ethoxylated fatty alcohol and/or         polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer) [42].     -   An emulsion comprising a mineral oil, a non-ionic hydrophilic         ethoxylated fatty alcohol, and a non-ionic lipophilic surfactant         (e.g. an ethoxylated fatty alcohol and/or         polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer) [42].     -   An emulsion in which a saponin (e.g. QuilA or QS21) and a sterol         (e.g. a cholesterol) are associated as helical micelles [43].

Antigens and adjuvants in a composition will typically be in admixture at the time of delivery to a patient. The emulsions may be mixed with antigen during manufacture, or extemporaneously, at the time of delivery. Thus the adjuvant and antigen may be kept separately in a packaged or distributed vaccine, ready for final formulation at the time of use. The antigen will generally be in an aqueous form, such that the vaccine is finally prepared by mixing two liquids. The volume ratio of the two liquids for mixing can vary (e.g. between 5:1 and 1:5) but is generally about 1:1.

Where a composition includes a tocopherol, any of the α, β, γ, δ, εor ξ or tocopherols can be used, but α-tocopherols are preferred. The tocopherol can take several forms e.g. different salts and/or isomers. Salts include organic salts, such as succinate, acetate, nicotinate, etc. D-α-tocopherol and DL-α-tocopherol can both be used. Tocopherols have antioxidant properties that may help to stabilize the emulsions [44]. A preferred α-tocopherol is DL-α-tocopherol, and the preferred salt of this tocopherol is the succinate. The succinate salt has been found to cooperate with TNF-related ligands in vivo.

As mentioned above, oil-in-water emulsions comprising squalene are particularly preferred. In some embodiments, the squalene concentration in a vaccine dose may be in the range of 5-15 mg (i.e. a concentration of 10-30 mg/ml, assuming a 0.5 ml dose volume). It is possible, though, to reduce the concentration of squalene [45,46] e.g. to include <5 mg per dose, or even <1.1 mg per dose. For example, a human dose may include 9.75 mg squalene per dose (as in the FLUAD™ product: 9.75 mg squalene, 1.175 mg polysorbate 80, 1.175 mg sorbitan trioleate, in a 0.5 ml dose volume), or it may include a fractional amount thereof e.g. 3/4, 2/3, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, or 1/10. For example, a composition may include 7.31 mg squalene per dose (and thus 0.88 mg each of polysorbate 80 and sorbitan trioleate), 4.875 mg squalene/dose (and thus 0.588 mg each of polysorbate 80 and sorbitan trioleate), 3.25 mg squalene/dose, 2.438 mg/dose, 1.95 mg/dose, 0.975 mg/dose, etc. Any of these fractional dilutions of the FLUAD™-strength MF59 can be used with the invention.

Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotides

A further suitable adjuvant is a particulate complex of an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and a polycationic polymer, such as “IC31”.

Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides are known as useful adjuvants. They often contain a CpG motif (a dinucleotide sequence containing an unmethylated cytosine linked to a guanosine) and their adjuvant effect is discussed in refs. 47-52. Oligonucleotides containing TpG motifs, palindromic sequences, multiple consecutive thymidine nucleotides (e.g. TTTT), multiple consecutive cytosine nucleotides (e.g. CCCC) or poly(dG) sequences are also known immunostimulants, as are double-stranded RNAs. Although any of these various immunostimulatory oligonucleotides can be used with the invention, it is preferred to use an oligodeoxynucleotide containing deoxyinosine and/or deoxyuridine, and ideally an oligodeoxynucleotide containing deoxyinosine and deoxycytosine. Inosine-containing oligodeoxynucleotides may include a CpI motif (a dinucleotide sequence containing a cytosine linked to an inosine). The oligodeoxynucleotide may include more than one (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more) CpI motif, and these may be directly repeated (e.g. comprising the sequence (CI)_(x), where x is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more) or separated from each other (e.g. comprising the sequence (CIN)_(x), where x is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more, and where each N independently represents one or more nucleotides). Cytosine residues are ideally unmethylated.

An oligonucleotide will typically have between 10 and 100 nucleotides e.g. 15-50 nucleotides, 20-30 nucleotides, or 25-28 nucleotides. It will typically be single-stranded.

The oligonucleotide can include exclusively natural nucleotides, exclusively non-natural nucleotides, or a mix of both. For instance, it may include one or more phosphorothioate linkage(s), and/or one or more nucleotides may have a 2′-O-methyl modification.

A preferred oligonucleotide is a single-stranded deoxynucleotide comprising the 26-mer sequence 5′-(IC)₁₃-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 18). This oligodeoxynucleotide forms stable complexes with polycationic polymers to give a good adjuvant.

The polycationic polymer is ideally a polycationic peptide. The polymer may include one or more leucine amino acid residue(s) and/or one or more lysine amino acid residue(s). The polymer may include one or more arginine amino acid residue(s). It may include at least one direct repeat of one of these amino acids e.g. one or more Leu-Leu dipeptide sequence(s), one or more Lys-Lys dipeptide sequence(s), or one or more Arg-Arg dipeptide sequence(s). It may include at least one (and preferably multiple e.g. 2 or 3) Lys-Leu dipeptide sequence(s) and/or at least one (and preferably multiple e.g. 2 or 3) Lys-Leu-Lys tripeptide sequence(s).

The peptide may comprise a sequence R₁—XZXZ_(x)XZX—R₂(SEQ ID NO: 50), wherein: x is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7; each X is independently a positively-charged natural and/or non-natural amino acid residue; each Z is independently an amino acid residue L, V, I, F or W; and R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —NH₂, —COCH₃, or —COH. In some embodiments X—R₂ may be an amide, ester or thioester of the peptide's C-terminal amino acid residue.

A polycationic peptide will typically have between 5 and 50 amino acids e.g. 6-20 amino acids, 7-15 amino acids, or 9-12 amino acids.

A peptide can include exclusively natural amino acids, exclusively non-natural amino acids, or a mix of both. It may include L-amino acids and/or D-amino acids. L-amino acids are typical.

A peptide can have a natural N-terminus (NH₂—) or a modified N-terminus e.g. a hydroxyl, acetyl, etc. A peptide can have a natural C-terminus (—COOH) or a modified C-terminus e.g. a hydroxyl, an acetyl, etc. Such modifications can improve the peptide's stability.

A preferred peptide for use with the invention is the 11-mer KLKLLLLLKLK (SEQ ID NO: 19), with all L-amino acids. The N-terminus may be deaminated and the C-terminus may be hydroxylated. A preferred peptide is H—KLKL₅KLK—OH (SEQ ID NO: 51), with all L-amino acids. This oligopeptide forms stable complexes with immunostimulatory oligonucleotides to give a good adjuvant.

The most preferred mixture of immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and polycationic polymer is the TLR9 agonist known as IC31™ [53-55], which is an adsorptive complex of oligodeoxynucleotide SEQ ID NO: 18 and polycationic oligopeptide SEQ ID NO: 19.

The oligonucleotide and oligopeptide can be mixed together at various ratios, but they will generally be mixed with the peptide at a molar excess. The molar excess may be at least 5:1 e.g. 10:1, 15:1, 20:1, 25:1, 30;1, 35:1, 40:1 etc. A molar ratio of about 25:1 is ideal [56,57]. Mixing at this excess ratio can result in formation of insoluble particulate complexes between oligonucleotide and oligopeptide.

The oligonucleotide and oligopeptide will typically be mixed under aqueous conditions e.g. a solution of the oligonucleotide can be mixed with a solution of the oligopeptide with a desired ratio. The two solutions may be prepared by dissolving dried (e.g. lyophilised) materials in water or buffer to form stock solutions that can then be mixed. The complexes can be analysed using the methods disclosed in reference 58.

Poly-arginine and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides similarly form complexes [59] which may be used.

The complexes can be maintained in aqueous suspension e.g. in water or in buffer. Typical buffers for use with the complexes are Tris buffers, Tris/sorbitol buffers, borate buffers, succinate buffers, citrate buffers, histidine buffers, etc. As an alternative, complexes may sometimes be lyophilised.

Various concentrations of oligonucleotide and polycationic polymer can be used e.g. any of the concentrations used in references 53, 56 or 57. For example, a polycationic oligopeptide can be present at 1100 μM, 1000 μM, 350 μM, 220 μM, 200 μM, 110 μM, 100 μM, 11 μM, 10 μM, etc. An oligonucleotide can be present at 44 nM, 40 nM, 14 nM, 4.4 nM, 4 nM, etc. A polycationic oligopeptide concentration of less than 2000 nM is typical. For SEQ ID NOs: 18 & 19, mixed at a molar ratio of 1:25, the concentrations in mg/mL in three embodiments of the invention may thus be 0.311 & 1.322, or 0.109 & 0.463, or 0.031 and 0.132.

In embodiments of the invention which include a particulate complex of an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and a polycationic polymer, it is useful if this complex is the sole adjuvant e.g. the composition may be free from aluminium salts and free from oil-in-water emulsions.

Further Antigen(s)

In addition to fHbp antigen(s), compositions of the invention can include further antigens from meningococcus or from other pathogens e.g. from other bacteria such as pneumococcus.

Further Meningococcal Polypeptide Antigens

In addition to including meningococcal fHbp antigens, a composition may include one or more further meningococcal polypeptide antigen(s). Thus a composition may include a polypeptide antigen selected from the group consisting of: 287, NadA, NspA, HmbR, NhhA, App, and/or Omp85. These antigens will usefully be present as purified polypeptides e.g. recombinant polypeptides. The antigen will preferably elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject. If a composition includes a PorA antigen then, in some embodiments, only one meningococcal PorA serosubtype is included. In some embodiments, no meningococcal PorA outer membrane protein is included in a composition.

A composition of the invention may include a 287 antigen. The 287 antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB2132 (GenBank accession number GI:7227388; SEQ ID NO: 9 herein). The sequences of 287 antigen from many strains have been published since then. For example, allelic forms of 287 can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 15 of reference 60, and in example 13 and FIG. 21 of reference 61 (SEQ IDs 3179 to 3184 therein). Various immunogenic fragments of the 287 antigen have also been reported. Preferred 287 antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 9; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 9, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 9. The most useful 287 antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 9. Advantageous 287 antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

A composition of the invention may include a NadA antigen. The NadA antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB1994 (GenBank accession number GI:7227256; SEQ ID NO: 10 herein). The sequences of NadA antigen from many strains have been published since then, and the protein's activity as a Neisserial adhesin has been well documented. Various immunogenic fragments of NadA have also been reported. Preferred NadA antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 10; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 10. The most useful NadA antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 10. Advantageous NadA antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject. SEQ ID NO: 6 is one such fragment.

A composition of the invention may include a NspA antigen. The NspA antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB0663 (GenBank accession number GI:7225888; SEQ ID NO: 11 herein). The antigen was previously known from references 62 & 63. The sequences of NspA antigen from many strains have been published since then. Various immunogenic fragments of NspA have also been reported. Preferred NspA antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 11; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 11. The most useful NspA antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 11. Advantageous NspA antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

Compositions of the invention may include a meningococcal HmbR antigen. The full-length HmbR sequence was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB1668 (SEQ ID NO: 7 herein). Reference 64 reports a HmbR sequence from a different strain (SEQ ID NO: 8 herein). SEQ ID NOs: 7 and 8 differ in length by 1 amino acid and have 94.2% identity. The invention can use a polypeptide that comprises a full-length HmbR sequence, but it will often use a polypeptide that comprises a partial HmbR sequence. Thus in some embodiments a HmbR sequence used according to the invention may comprise an amino acid sequence having at least i % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7, where the value of i is 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 99 or more. In other embodiments a HmbR sequence used according to the invention may comprise a fragment of at leastj consecutive amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 7, where the value ofj is 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more. In other embodiments a HmbR sequence used according to the invention may comprise an amino acid sequence (i) having at least i % sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7 and/or (ii) comprising a fragment of at least j consecutive amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 7. Preferred fragments of j amino acids comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 7. Such epitopes will usually comprise amino acids that are located on the surface of HmbR. Useful epitopes include those with amino acids involved in HmbR's binding to haemoglobin, as antibodies that bind to these epitopes can block the ability of a bacterium to bind to host haemoglobin. The topology of HmbR, and its critical functional residues, were investigated in reference 65. The most useful HmbR antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7. Advantageous HmbR antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

A composition of the invention may include a NhhA antigen. The NhhA antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB0992 (GenBank accession number GI:7226232; SEQ ID NO: 12 herein). The sequences of NhhA antigen from many strains have been published since e.g. refs 60 & 66, and various immunogenic fragments of NhhA have been reported. It is also known as Hsf. Preferred NhhA antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 12; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 12, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 12. The most useful NhhA antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 12. Advantageous NhhA antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

A composition of the invention may include an App antigen. The App antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB1985 (GenBank accession number GI:7227246; SEQ ID NO: 13 herein). The sequences of App antigen from many strains have been published since then. Various immunogenic fragments of App have also been reported. Preferred App antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 13; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 13, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 13. The most useful App antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 13. Advantageous App antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

A composition of the invention may include an Omp85 antigen. The Omp85 antigen was included in the published genome sequence for meningococcal serogroup B strain MC58 [9] as gene NMB0182 (GenBank accession number GI:7225401; SEQ ID NO: 14 herein). The sequences of Omp85 antigen from many strains have been published since then. Further information on Omp85 can be found in references 67 and 68. Various immunogenic fragments of Omp85 have also been reported. Preferred Omp85 antigens for use with the invention comprise an amino acid sequence: (a) having 50% or more identity (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more) to SEQ ID NO: 14; and/or (b) comprising a fragment of at least ‘n’ consecutive amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 14, wherein ‘n’ is 7 or more (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250 or more). Preferred fragments of (b) comprise an epitope from SEQ ID NO: 14. The most useful Omp85 antigens of the invention can elicit antibodies which, after administration to a subject, can bind to a meningococcal polypeptide consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 14. Advantageous Omp85 antigens for use with the invention can elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

Meningococcal Lipooligosaccharide

In addition to including meningococcal fHbp polypeptide antigen(s), a composition may include one or more meningococcal lipooligosaccharide (LOS) antigen(s). Meningococcal LOS is a glucosamine-based phospholipid that is found in the outer monolayer of the outer membrane of the bacterium. It includes a lipid A portion and a core oligosaccharide region, with the lipid A portion acting as a hydrophobic anchor in the membrane. Heterogeneity within the oligosaccharide core generates structural and antigenic diversity among different meningococcal strains, which has been used to subdivide the strains into 12 immunotypes (L1 to L12). The invention may use LOS from any immunotype e.g. from L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 and/or L8.

The L2 and L3 α-chains naturally include lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT). Where the invention uses LOS from a L2 or L3 immunotype this LNnT may be absent. This absence can be achieved conveniently by using mutant strains that are engineered to disrupt their ability to synthesise the LNnT tetrasaccharide within the α-chain. It is known to achieve this goal by knockout of the enzymes that are responsible for the relevant biosynthetic additions [69,70]. For instance, knockout of the LgtB enzyme prevents addition of the terminal galactose of LNnT, as well as preventing downstream addition of the α-chain's terminal sialic acid. Knockout of the LgtA enzyme prevents addition of the N-acetyl-glucosamine of LNnT, and also the downstream additions. LgtA knockout may be accompanied by LgtC knockout. Similarly, knockout of the LgtE and/or GalE enzyme prevents addition of internal galactose, and knockout of LgtF prevents addition of glucose to the Hep¹ residue. Any of these knockouts can be used, singly or in combination, to disrupt the LNnT tetrasaccharide in a L2, L3, L4, L7 or L9 immunotype strain. Knockout of at least LgtB is preferred, as this provides a LOS that retains useful immunogenicity while removing the LNnT epitope.

In addition to, or in place of, mutations to disrupt the LNnT epitope, a knockout of the galE gene also provides a useful modified LOS, and a lipid A fatty transferase gene may similarly be knocked out [71]. At least one primary O-linked fatty acid may be removed from LOS [72]. LOS having a reduced number of secondary acyl chains per LOS molecule can also be used [73]. The LOS will typically include at least the GlcNAc-Hep₂phosphoethanolamine-KDO₂-Lipid A structure [74]. The LOS may include a GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc trisaccharide while lacking the LNnT tetrasaccharide.

LOS may be included in compositions of the invention in various forms. It may be used in purified form on its own. It may be conjugated to a carrier protein. When LOS is conjugated, conjugation may be via a lipid A portion in the LOS or by any other suitable moiety e.g. its KDO residues. If the lipid A moiety of LOS is absent then such alternative linking is required. Conjugation techniques for LOS are known from e.g. references 72, 74, 75, 76, etc. Useful carrier proteins for these conjugates are discussed below e.g. bacterial toxins, such as diphtheria or tetanus toxins, or toxoids or mutants thereof.

The LOS may be from a strain (e.g. a genetically-engineered meningococcal strain) which has a fixed (i.e. not phase variable) LOS immunotype as described in reference 77. For example, L2 and L3 LOS immunotypes may be fixed. Such strains may have a rate of switching between immunotypes that is reduced by more than 2-fold (even >50_fold) relative to the original wild-type strain. Reference 77 discloses how this result can be achieved by modification of the lgtA and/or lgtG gene products.

LOS may be O-acetylated on a GlcNac residue attached to its Heptose II residue e.g. for L3 [78].

An immunogenic composition can include more than one type of LOS e.g. LOS from meningococcal immunotypes L2 and L3. For example, the LOS combinations disclosed in reference 79 may be used.

A LOS antigen can preferably elicit bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a subject.

However, preferred compositions of the invention are free from meningococcal lipooligosaccharide.

Meningococcal Capsular Saccharide Antigen(s)

In addition to including meningococcal fHbp antigens, a composition may include one or more meningococcal capsular saccharide conjugates. A composition of the invention may include one or more conjugates of capsular saccharides from 1, 2, 3, or 4 of meningococcal serogroups A, C, W135 and Y e.g. A+C, A+W135, A+Y, C+W135, C+Y, W135+Y, A+C+W135, A+C+Y, A+W135+Y, A+C+W135+Y, etc. Compositions including a conjugated serogroup C capsular saccharide are useful, and compositions including saccharides from all of serogroups A, C, W135 and Y are ideal.

The capsular saccharide of serogroup A meningococcus is a homopolymer of (α1→6)-linked N-acetyl-D-mannosamine-1-phosphate, with partial O-acetylation in the C3 and C4 positions. Acetylation at the C-3 position can be 70-95%. Conditions used to purify the saccharide can result in de-O-acetylation (e.g. under basic conditions), but it is useful to retain OAc at this C-3 position. In some embodiments, at least 50% (e.g. at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or more) of the mannosamine residues in a serogroup A saccharides are O-acetylated at the C-3 position. Acetyl groups can be replaced with blocking groups to prevent hydrolysis [80], and such modified saccharides are still serogroup A saccharides within the meaning of the invention.

The serogroup C capsular saccharide is a homopolymer of (α 2→9)-linked sialic acid (N-acetyl neuraminic acid, or ‘NeuNAc’). The saccharide structure is written as →9)-Neu p NAc 7/8 OAc− (α2→. Most serogroup C strains have O-acetyl groups at C-7 and/or C-8 of the sialic acid residues, but about 15% of clinical isolates lack these O-acetyl groups [81,82]. The presence or absence of OAc groups generates unique epitopes, and the specificity of antibody binding to the saccharide may affect its bactericidal activity against O-acetylated (OAc+) and de-O-acetylated (OAc−) strains [83-85]. Serogroup C saccharides used with the invention may be prepared from either OAc+ or OAc− strains. Licensed MenC conjugate vaccines include both OAc− (NEISVAC-C™) and OAc+ (MENJUGATE™ & MENINGITEC™) saccharides. In some embodiments, strains for production of serogroup C conjugates are OAc+ strains, e.g. of serotype 16, serosubtype P1.7a,1, etc. Thus C:16:P1.7a,1 OAc+ strains may be used. OAc+ strains in serosubtype P1.1 are also useful, such as the C11 strain.

The serogroup W135 saccharide is a polymer of sialic acid-galactose disaccharide units. Like the serogroup C saccharide, it has variable O-acetylation, but at sialic acid 7 and 9 positions [86]. The structure is written as: →4)-D-Neup5Ac(7/9OAc)-α-(2→6)-D-Gal-α-(1→.

The serogroup Y saccharide is similar to the serogroup W135 saccharide, except that the disaccharide repeating unit includes glucose instead of galactose. Like serogroup W135, it has variable O-acetylation at sialic acid 7 and 9 positions [86]. The serogroup Y structure is written as: →4)-D-Neup5Ac(7/9OAc)-α-(2→6)-D-Glc-α-(1→.

The saccharides used according to the invention may be O-acetylated as described above (e.g. with the same O-acetylation pattern as seen in native capsular saccharides), or they may be partially or totally de-O-acetylated at one or more positions of the saccharide rings, or they may be hyper-O-acetylated relative to the native capsular saccharides.

The saccharide moieties in conjugates may comprise full-length saccharides as prepared from meningococci, and/or may comprise fragments of full-length saccharides i.e. the saccharides may be shorter than the native capsular saccharides seen in bacteria. The saccharides may thus be depolymerised, with depolymerisation occurring during or after saccharide purification but before conjugation. Depolymerisation reduces the chain length of the saccharides. One depolymerisation method involves the use of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is added to a saccharide (e.g. to give a final H₂O₂ concentration of 1%), and the mixture is then incubated (e.g. at about 55° C.) until a desired chain length reduction has been achieved. Another depolymerisation method involves acid hydrolysis. Other depolymerisation methods are known in the art. The saccharides used to prepare conjugates for use according to the invention may be obtainable by any of these depolymerisation methods. Depolymerisation can be used in order to provide an optimum chain length for immunogenicity and/or to reduce chain length for physical manageability of the saccharides. In some embodiments, saccharides have the following range of average degrees of polymerisation (Dp): A=10-20; C=12-22; W135=15-25; Y=15-25. In terms of molecular weight, rather than Dp, useful ranges are, for all serogroups: <100 kDa; 5 kDa-75 kDa; 7 kDa-50 kDa; 8 kDa-35 kDa; 12 kDa-25 kDa; 15 kDa-22 kDa.

In some embodiments, the average molecular weight for saccharides from each of meningococcal serogroups A, C, W135 and Y may be more than 50 kDa e.g. ≥75 kDa, ≥100 kDa, ≥110 kDa, ≥120 kDa, ≥130 kDa, etc. [87], and even up to 1500 kDa, in particular as determined by MALLS. For instance: a MenA saccharide may be in the range 50-500 kDa e.g. 60-80 kDa; a MenC saccharide may be in the range 100-210 kDa; a MenW135 saccharide may be in the range 60-190 kDa e.g. 120-140 kDa; and/or a MenY saccharide may be in the range 60-190 kDa e.g. 150-160 kDa.

The mass of meningococcal saccharide per serogroup in a composition will usually be between 1 μg and 20 μg e.g. between 2 and 10 μg per serogroup, or about 4 μg or about 5 μg or about 10 μg. Where conjugates from more than one serogroup are included then they may be present at substantially equal masses e.g. the mass of each serogroup's saccharide is within +10% of each other. As an alternative to an equal ratio, a double mass of serogroup A saccharide may be used. Thus a vaccine may include MenA saccharide at 10 μg and MenC, W135 and Y saccharides at 5 μg each.

Useful carrier proteins for meningococcal conjugates include bacterial toxins, such as diphtheria or tetanus toxins, or toxoids or mutants thereof. These are commonly used in conjugate vaccines. For example, the CRM197 diphtheria toxin mutant is useful [88]. Other suitable carrier proteins include synthetic peptides [89,90], heat shock proteins [91,92], pertussis proteins [93,94], cytokines [95], lymphokines [95], hormones [95], growth factors [95], artificial proteins comprising multiple human CD4⁺ T cell epitopes from various pathogen-derived antigens [96] such as N19 [97], protein D from H. influenzae [98-100], pneumolysin [101] or its non-toxic derivatives [102], pneumococcal surface protein PspA [103], iron-uptake proteins [104], toxin A or B from C. difficile [105], recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoprotein A (rEPA) [106], etc. CRM197 is preferred.

Where a composition includes conjugates from more than one meningococcal serogroup it is possible to use the same carrier protein for each separate conjugate, or to use different carrier proteins. In both cases, though, a mixture of different conjugates will usually be formed by preparing each serotype conjugate separately, and then mixing them to form a mixture of separate conjugates.

Conjugates with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) of between 1:5 (i.e. excess protein) and 5:1 (i.e. excess saccharide) may be used e.g. ratios between 1:2 and 5:1 and ratios between 1:1.25 and 1:2.5. As described in reference 107, different meningococcal serogroup conjugates in a mixture can have different saccharide:protein ratios e.g. one may have a ratio of between 1:2 & 1:5, whereas another has a ratio between 5:1 & 1:1.99.

A carrier protein may be covalently conjugated to a meningococcal saccharide directly or via a linker. Various linkers are known. For example, attachment may be via a carbonyl, which may be formed by reaction of a free hydroxyl group of a modified saccharide with CDI [108,109] followed by reaction with a protein to form a carbamate linkage. Carbodiimide condensation can be used [110]. An adipic acid linker can be used, which may be formed by coupling a free —NH₂ group (e.g. introduced to a saccharide by amination) with adipic acid (using, for example, diimide activation), and then coupling a protein to the resulting saccharide-adipic acid intermediate [111,112]. Other linkers include (β-propionamido [113], nitrophenyl-ethylamine [114], haloacyl halides [115], glycosidic linkages [116], 6-aminocaproic acid [117], N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate (SPDP) [118], adipic acid dihydrazide ADH [119], C₄ to C₁₂ moieties [120], etc.

Conjugation via reductive amination can be used. The saccharide may first be oxidised with periodate to introduce an aldehyde group, which can then form a direct covalent linkage to a carrier protein via reductive amination e.g. to the s-amino group of a lysine. If the saccharide includes multiple aldehyde groups per molecule then this linkage technique can lead to a cross-linked product, where multiple aldehydes react with multiple carrier amines.

As described in reference 121, a mixture can include one conjugate with direct saccharide/protein linkage and another conjugate with linkage via a linker. This arrangement applies particularly when using saccharide conjugates from different meningococcal serogroups e.g. MenA and MenC saccharides may be conjugated via a linker, whereas MenW135 and MenY saccharides may be conjugated directly to a carrier protein.

A meningococcal saccharide may comprise a full-length intact saccharide as prepared from meningococcus, and/or may comprise fragments of full-length saccharides i.e. the saccharides may be shorter than the native capsular saccharides seen in bacteria. The saccharides may thus be depolymerised, with depolymerisation occurring during or after saccharide purification but before conjugation. Depolymerisation reduces the chain length of the saccharides. Depolymerisation can be used in order to provide an optimum chain length for immunogenicity and/or to reduce chain length for physical manageability of the saccharides.

Conjugated Pneumococcal Capsular Saccharide(s)

Compositions of the invention may include a pneumococcal capsular saccharide conjugated to a carrier protein.

The invention can include capsular saccharide from one or more different pneumococcal serotypes. Where a composition includes saccharide antigens from more than one serotype, these are preferably prepared separately, conjugated separately, and then combined. Methods for purifying pneumococcal capsular saccharides are known in the art (e.g. see reference 122) and vaccines based on purified saccharides from 23 different serotypes have been known for many years. Improvements to these methods have also been described e.g. for serotype 3 as described in reference 123, or for serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F and 19A as described in reference 124.

Pneumococcal capsular saccharide(s) will typically be selected from the following serotypes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19A, 19F, 20, 22F, 23F and/or 33F. Thus, in total, a composition may include a capsular saccharide from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or more different serotypes.

A useful combination of serotypes is a 7-valent combination e.g. including capsular saccharide from each of serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F. Another useful combination is a 9-valent combination e.g. including capsular saccharide from each of serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. Another useful combination is a 10-valent combination e.g. including capsular saccharide from each of serotypes 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. An 1-valent combination may further include saccharide from serotype 3. A 12-valent combination may add to the 10-valent mixture: serotypes 6A and 19A; 6A and 22F; 19A and 22F; 6A and 15B; 19A and 15B; or 22F and 15B. A 13-valent combination may add to the 1-valent mixture: serotypes 19A and 22F; 8 and 12F; 8 and 15B; 8 and 19A; 8 and 22F; 12F and 15B; 12F and 19A; 12F and 22F; 15B and 19A; 15B and 22F; 6A and 19A, etc.

Thus a useful 13-valent combination includes capsular saccharide from serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19, 19F and 23F e.g. prepared as disclosed in references 125 to 128. One such combination includes serotype 6B saccharide at about 8 μg/ml and the other 12 saccharides at concentrations of about 4 μg/ml each. Another such combination includes serotype 6A and 6B saccharides at about 8 μg/ml each and the other 11 saccharides at about 4 μg/ml each.

Suitable carrier proteins for conjugates are discussed above in relation to meningococcal conjugates. Particularly useful carrier proteins for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are CRM197, tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid and H. influenzae protein D. CRM197 is used in PREVNAR™. A 13-valent mixture may use CRM197 as the carrier protein for each of the 13 conjugates, and CRM197 may be present at about 55-60 μg/ml.

Where a composition includes conjugates from more than one pneumococcal serotype, it is possible to use the same carrier protein for each separate conjugate, or to use different carrier proteins. In both cases, though, a mixture of different conjugates will usually be formed by preparing each serotype conjugate separately, and then mixing them to form a mixture of separate conjugates. Reference 129 describes potential advantages when using different carrier proteins in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, but the PREVNAR™ product successfully uses the same carrier for each of seven different serotypes.

A carrier protein may be covalently conjugated to a pneumococcal saccharide directly or via a linker, as discussed above in relation to meningococcal conjugates. Cross-linking conjugation techniques are particularly useful for at least pneumococcal serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F.

As discussed above for meningococcal saccharides, a pneumococcal saccharide may comprise a full-length intact saccharide as prepared from pneumococcus, and/or may comprise fragments of full-length saccharides. Where more than one pneumococcal serotype is used then it is possible to use intact saccharides for each serotype, fragments for each serotype, or to use intact saccharides for some serotypes and fragments for other serotypes. Where a composition includes saccharide from any of serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 19F and 23F, these saccharides are preferably intact. In contrast, where a composition includes serotype 18C saccharide it is preferably depolymerised.

A serotype 3 saccharide may also be depolymerised. For instance, a serotype 3 saccharide can be subjected to acid hydrolysis for depolymerisation [125] e.g. using acetic acid. The resulting fragments may then be oxidised for activation (e.g. periodate oxidation, maybe in the presence of bivalent cations e.g. with MgCl₂), conjugated to a carrier (e.g. CRM197) under reducing conditions (e.g. using sodium cyanoborohydride), and then (optionally) any unreacted aldehydes in the saccharide can be capped (e.g. using sodium borohydride) [125]. Conjugation may be performed on lyophilized material e.g. after co-lyophilizing activated saccharide and carrier.

A serotype 1 saccharide may be at least partially de-O-acetylated e.g. achieved by alkaline pH buffer treatment [126] such as by using a bicarbonate/carbonate buffer. Such (partially) de-O-acetylated saccharides can be oxidised for activation (e.g. periodate oxidation), conjugated to a carrier (e.g. CRM197) under reducing conditions (e.g. using sodium cyanoborohydride), and then (optionally) any unreacted aldehydes in the saccharide can be capped (e.g. using sodium borohydride) [126].

Conjugation may be performed on lyophilized material e.g. after co-lyophilizing activated saccharide and carrier.

A serotype 19A saccharide may be oxidised for activation (e.g. periodate oxidation), conjugated to a carrier (e.g. CRM197) in DMSO under reducing conditions, and then (optionally) any unreacted aldehydes in the saccharide can be capped (e.g. using sodium borohydride) [130]. Conjugation may be performed on lyophilized material e.g. after co-lyophilizing activated saccharide and carrier.

Pneumococcal conjugates can ideally elicit anticapsular antibodies that bind to the relevant saccharide e.g. elicit an anti-saccharide antibody level ≥0.20 μg/mL [131]. The antibodies may be evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and/or measurement of opsonophagocytic activity (OPA). The EIA method has been extensively validated and there is a link between antibody concentration and vaccine efficacy.

Further Antigens from Other Pathogen(s)

Compositions of the invention can include antigen(s) from further pathogen(s). For example, the composition may comprise one or more of the following further antigen(s):

-   -   an antigen from hepatitis B virus, such as the surface antigen         HBsAg.     -   an antigen from Bordetella pertussis, such as pertussis         holotoxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) from B.         pertussis, optionally also in combination with pertactin and/or         agglutinogens 2 and 3.     -   a diphtheria antigen, such as a diphtheria toxoid.     -   a tetanus antigen, such as a tetanus toxoid.     -   a saccharide antigen from Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib),         typically conjugated.     -   inactivated poliovirus antigen(s).

Where a diphtheria antigen is included in the composition it is preferred also to include tetanus antigen and pertussis antigens. Similarly, where a tetanus antigen is included it is preferred also to include diphtheria and pertussis antigens. Similarly, where a pertussis antigen is included it is preferred also to include diphtheria and tetanus antigens. DTP combinations are thus preferred.

Extemporaneous Preparation

The invention also provides a kit comprising: (i) a first component comprising fHbp antigens, as described above; and (ii) a second component comprising a non-meningococcal immunogen. The kit components can be mixed to give an immunogenic composition for administering to a patient to protect against multiple pathogens.

The invention also provides a method for preparing a combined vaccine, comprising a step of mixing: (i) a first component comprising fHbp antigens, as described above; and (ii) a second component comprising a non-meningococcal immunogen. The mixed material may then be administered to a patient. The second component may be lyophilised, such that an aqueous first component reconstitutes it.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The invention is concerned with immunogenic compositions for administration to a patient. These compositions are pharmaceutically acceptable and will typically include a suitable carrier. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers is available in reference 132.

Effective dosage volumes can be routinely established, but a typical human unit dose of the composition has a volume of about 0.5 ml.

The total amount of a fHbp polypeptide in a unit dose will usually be between 1 and 500 μg/dose e.g. between 60 and 200 μg/dose or between 120 and 500 μg/ml. An amount of 20, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100 or 200 μg for each fHbp antigen is typical in a human vaccine dose. Thus a vaccine may be formulated to include this amount of each fHbp.

The pH of a composition of the invention is usually between 6 and 8, and more preferably between 6.5 and 7.5 (e.g. about 7). As already discussed above, compositions may include a buffer e.g. a Tris buffer, a citrate buffer, a succinate buffer (such as a sodium succinate buffer), or a histidine buffer.

The composition may be sterile and/or pyrogen-free. Compositions of the invention may be isotonic with respect to humans.

Compositions of the invention may include sodium salts (e.g. sodium chloride) to give tonicity. A concentration of 10±2 mg/ml NaCl is typical e.g. about 9 mg/ml.

Compositions of the invention for administration to patients are immunogenic, and are more preferably vaccine compositions. Vaccines according to the invention may either be prophylactic (i.e. to prevent infection) or therapeutic (i.e. to treat infection), but will typically be prophylactic. Immunogenic compositions used as vaccines comprise an immunologically effective amount of antigen(s), as well as any other components, as needed. By ‘immunologically effective amount’, it is meant that the administration of that amount to an individual, either in a single dose or as part of a series, is effective for treatment or prevention. This amount varies depending upon the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, age, the taxonomic group of individual to be treated (e.g. non-human primate, primate, etc.), the capacity of the individual's immune system to synthesise antibodies, the degree of protection desired, the formulation of the vaccine, the treating doctor's assessment of the medical situation, and other relevant factors. It is expected that the amount will fall in a relatively broad range that can be determined through routine trials. The antigen content of compositions of the invention will generally be expressed in terms of the amount of protein per dose.

Meningococci affect various areas of the body and so the compositions of the invention may be prepared in various liquid forms. For example, the compositions may be prepared as injectables, either as solutions or suspensions. The composition may be prepared for pulmonary administration e.g. by an inhaler, using a fine spray. The composition may be prepared for nasal, aural or ocular administration e.g. as spray or drops. Injectables for intramuscular administration are most typical.

Compositions of the invention may include an antimicrobial, particularly when packaged in multiple dose format. Antimicrobials such as thiomersal and 2-phenoxyethanol are commonly found in vaccines, but it is preferred to use either a mercury-free preservative or no preservative at all.

Compositions of the invention may comprise detergent e.g. a polysorbate (Tween), such as polysorbate 80. Detergents are generally present at low levels e.g. <0.01%, but higher levels have been suggested for stabilising antigen formulations [133] e.g. up to 10%. An example composition may include from 0.01 to 0.05% polysorbate, and this is particularly useful when using lipidated fHbp antigen(s).

Methods of Treatment

The invention also provides a method for raising an immune response in a mammal, comprising administering a composition of the invention to the mammal. The immune response is preferably protective against meningococcus and preferably involves antibodies. The method may raise a booster response in a patient that has already been primed.

The mammal is preferably a human. Where the vaccine is for prophylactic use, the human is preferably a child (e.g. a toddler or infant) or a teenager; where the vaccine is for therapeutic use, the human is preferably an adult. A vaccine intended for children may also be administered to adults e.g. to assess safety, dosage, immunogenicity, etc.

The invention also provides compositions of the invention for use as a medicament. The medicament is preferably used, as described above, to raise an immune response in a mammal (i.e. it is an immunogenic composition) and is more preferably a vaccine.

The invention also provides the use of at least two fHbp antigens, as defined above, in the manufacture of a medicament for raising an immune response, as described above, in a mammal.

These uses and methods are preferably for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease caused by N. meningitidis e.g. bacterial (or, more specifically, meningococcal) meningitis, or septicemia.

One way of checking efficacy of therapeutic treatment involves monitoring meningococcal infection after administration of the composition of the invention. One way of checking efficacy of prophylactic treatment involves monitoring immune responses against antigens after administration of the composition. Immunogenicity of compositions of the invention can be determined by administering them to test subjects (e.g. children 12-16 months age, or animal models) and then determining standard parameters including serum bactericidal antibodies (SBA) and ELISA titres (GMT) for meningococcus. These immune responses will generally be determined around 4 weeks after administration of the composition, and compared to values determined before administration of the composition. A SBA increase of at least 4-fold or 8-fold is preferred. Where more than one dose of the composition is administered, more than one post-administration determination may be made.

Compositions of the invention will generally be administered directly to a patient. Direct delivery may be accomplished by parenteral injection (e.g. subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intravenously, intramuscularly, or to the interstitial space of a tissue), or by any other suitable route. The invention may be used to elicit systemic and/or mucosal immunity. Intramuscular administration to the thigh or the upper arm is preferred. Injection may be via a needle (e.g. a hypodermic needle), but needle-free injection may alternatively be used. A typical intramuscular dose is 0.5 ml.

Dosage treatment can be a single dose schedule or a multiple dose schedule. Multiple doses may be used in a primary immunisation schedule and/or in a booster immunisation schedule. A primary dose schedule may be followed by a booster dose schedule. Suitable timing between priming doses (e.g. between 4-16 weeks), and between priming and boosting, can be routinely determined.

General

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional methods of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology and pharmacology, within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., references 134-140, etc.

The term “comprising” encompasses “including” as well as “consisting” e.g. a composition “comprising” X may consist exclusively of X or may include something additional e.g. X+Y.

The term “about” in relation to a numerical value x is optional and means, for example, x±10%.

Where the invention concerns an “epitope”, this epitope may be a B-cell epitope and/or a T-cell epitope, but will usually be a B-cell epitope. Such epitopes can be identified empirically (e.g. using PEPSCAN [141,142] or similar methods), or they can be predicted (e.g. using the Jameson-Wolf antigenic index [143], matrix-based approaches [144], MAPITOPE [145], TEPITOPE [146,147], neural networks [148], OptiMer & EpiMer [149,150], ADEPT [151], Tsites [152], hydrophilicity [153], antigenic index [154] or the methods disclosed in references 155-159, etc.). Epitopes are the parts of an antigen that are recognised by and bind to the antigen binding sites of antibodies or T-cell receptors, and they may also be referred to as “antigenic determinants”.

Where the invention uses a “purified” antigen, this antigen is separated from its naturally occurring environment. For example, the antigen will be substantially free from other meningococcal components, other than from any other purified antigens that are present. A mixture of purified antigens will typically be prepared by purifying each antigen separately and then re-combining them, even if the two antigens are naturally present in admixture.

References to a percentage sequence identity between two amino acid sequences means that, when aligned, that percentage of amino acids are the same in comparing the two sequences. This alignment and the percent homology or sequence identity can be determined using software programs known in the art, for example those described in section 7.7.18 of ref. 160. A preferred alignment is determined by the Smith-Waterman homology search algorithm using an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of 12 and a gap extension penalty of 2, BLOSUM matrix of 62. The Smith-Waterman homology search algorithm is disclosed in ref. 161.

The word “substantially” does not exclude “completely” e.g. a composition which is “substantially free” from Y may be completely free from Y. Where necessary, the word “substantially” may be omitted from the definition of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Five monovalent fHbp vaccines were tested, representing the following strains and fHbp families:

Strain MC58 961-5945 M1239 M01573 M01240320 fHbp family I II III I III

These were also tested as bivalent vaccines, either as MC58+M1239 or M01573+M01240320.

In parallel, the ‘5CVMB’ vaccine disclosed in reference 27 was used, which includes a single fHbp.

Thus eight vaccines were tested, all with an aluminium hydroxide adjuvant:

(A) Monovalent MC58 (B) Monovalent 961-5945 (C) Monovalent M1239 (D) Bivalent MC58 + M1239 (E) Monovalent M01573 (F) Monovalent M01240320 (G) Bivalent M01573 + M01240320 (H) Monovalent 5CVMB

Sera raised by the vaccines were tested against a panel of 12 strains covering all three fHbp families and including representatives of various fHbp sub-families (e.g. sub-families 1, 4, 9 & 10 of family II). Titers were as follows, with a titer ≥128 being the useful threshold in this assay:

fHbp (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G) (H) I.1 16384 2048 256 1024 <128 <128 <128 16384 I.4 512 <16 <16 128 256 <16 256 4096 I.10 <64 <64 <64 <64 1024 <64 8192 2048 I.11 1024 <16 <16 64 4096 64 4096 8192 I.9 64 <16 <16 32 32 <16 256 256 II.1 <64 4096 512 2048 <64 32768 32768 4096 II.4 <16 1024 512 512 <16 8192 8192 2048 II.9 <16 <16 <16 <16 <16 <16 <16 1024 II.10 <16 128 128 <16 <16 1024 256 256 III.1 <16 <64 2048 1024 <64 4096 1024 2048 III.4 <64 16384 512 4096 <64 >32768 32768 128 III.13 <16 4096 2048 2048 <16 >32768 ≥32768 256

These titers confirm the previous observations of intra-family, but not inter-family, protection. Notably, although all of vaccines (A) to (D) gave a useful titer against the family 1.1 strain (MC58), this was not seen with vaccines (E) to (G). Vaccines (B) & (C) contain fHbp from families II and III, but even these gave better titers than seen with the family I sequence in vaccine (from strain M01573. A large proportion of family I strains are in sub-family I.1 and so the M01573 sequence is unsuitable for ensuring coverage of this large sub-family. Instead of relying only on M01573, therefore, a vaccine should either replace or supplement it with a different family I sequence.

Alignment of SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 26

SEQ ID NOs: 23 and 26 are mature amino acid sequences (N-terminal cysteine) from strains MC58 and M01573, respectively. They align as follows:

SEQID_26 CSSGGGG-----VAADIGAGLADALTAPLDHKDKGLQSLTLDQSVRKNEKLKLAAQGAEK 55 SEQID_23 CSSGGGGSGGGGVTADIGTGLADALTAPLDHKDKGLKSLTLEDSISQNGTLTLSAQGAEK 60 *******     *:****:*****************:****::*: :* .*.*:****** SEQID_26 TYGNGDSLNTGKLKNDKVSRFDFIRQIEVDGQLITLESGEFQVYKQSHSALTAFQTEQIQ 115 SEQID_23 TYGNGDSLNTGKLKNDKVSRFDFIRQIEVDGQLITLESGEFQVYKQSHSALTALQTEQEQ 120 *****************************************************:**** * SEQID_26 DSEHSGKMVAKRQFRIGDIAGEHTSFDKLPEGGRATYRGTAFGSDDAGGKLTYTIDFAAK 175 SEQID_23 DPEHSEKMVAKRRFRIGDIAGEHTSFDKLPKDVMATYRGTAFGSDDAGGKLTYTIDFAAK 180 *.*** ******:*****************:.  ************************** SEQID_26 QGNGKIEHLKSPELNVDLAAADIKPDGKRHAVISGSVLYNQAEKGSYSLGIFGGKAQEVA 235 SEQID_23 QGHGKIEHLKSPELNVDLAVAYIKPDEKHHAVISGSVLYNQDEKGSYSLGIFGEKAQEVA 240 **:****************.* **** *:************ *********** ****** SEQID_26 GSAEVKTVNGIRHIGLAAKQ 255 SEQID_23 GSAEVETANGIHHIGLAAKQ 260 *****:*.***:********

Starting from Val-8 of SEQ ID NO: 26 and Val-13 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (i.e. excluding the N-terminus repeat region), they are 87.5% identical (217/248 identical residues).

When aligned with sequences from MC58, 961-5945 and M1239, two residues are unique to SEQ ID NO: 23, namely Thr-14 and Val-153, which align with residues 2 and 141 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

It will be understood that the invention has been described by way of example only and modifications may be made whilst remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention.

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The invention claimed:
 1. An immunogenic composition which comprises an immunologically effective amount of an adjuvant, an immunologically effective amount of a first isolated factor H binding protein (fHbp) antigen and an immunologically effective amount of a second isolated fHbp antigen, wherein: the first isolated fHbp antigen comprises a first amino acid sequence which has at least 75% sequence identity to both of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 23, but the first amino acid sequence has a higher sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 23, when aligned using the same algorithm and parameters; and the second isolated fHbp antigen comprises a second amino acid sequence which has at least 75% sequence identity to both of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 23, but the second amino acid sequence has a higher sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23 than to SEQ ID NO: 1, when aligned using the same algorithm and parameters.
 2. An immunogenic composition which comprises an immunologically effective amount of an adjuvant, an immunologically effective amount of a first isolated fHbp antigen and an immunologically effective amount of a second isolated fHbp antigen, wherein: the first isolated fHbp antigen comprises a first amino acid sequence which has at least 75% sequence identity to both of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 23, but the first amino acid sequence has a higher sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 than to SEQ ID NO: 23, when aligned using the same algorithm and parameters; and the second isolated fHbp antigen comprises a second amino acid sequence (i) having at least 94% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least 50 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:
 25. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the first isolated fHbp antigen can elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal against strain MC58 in a serum bactericidal assay.
 4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the first isolated fHbp antigen can elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal against strain MC58 in a serum bactericidal assay.
 5. The composition of claim 2, wherein the second isolated fHbp antigen can elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal against strain 961-5945 in a serum bactericidal assay.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the second isolated fHbp antigen elicits antibodies in a mouse which are not bactericidal against strain MC58 in a serum bactericidal assay.
 7. The composition of claim 1, including a third isolated fHbp antigen comprising an amino acid sequence (i) having at least 94% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25 and/or (ii) consisting of a fragment of at least 50 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:
 25. 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the third isolated fHbp antigen can elicit antibodies in a mouse which are bactericidal against strain 961-5945 in a serum bactericidal assay.
 9. The composition of claim 2, wherein the composition does not include (i) an antigen comprising an amino acid sequence which has >95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23 or (ii) an antigen comprising an amino acid sequence which has >95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
 24. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the adjuvant includes an aluminium salt. 